MOUNT OLIVE — The Mount Olive women's basketball team fought a hard battle against the Panthers of Ferrum College, losing one point in Saturday's game making the score 59-58 through overtime play at home.
Mount Olive had a close game against Ferrum with multiple opportunities to steal a win. After a slow start through two quarters, the Trojans caught fire offensively and defensively.
The heat ramped up in the final two minutes of the game. It began on a drive-and-pull jumper from Jada Priebe in the paint to bring the Trojans within four points at 2:04 (46-42).
Kayla Jackson was pivotal in the final few minutes of regulation, after grabbing a key rebounds with 54 seconds left, then knocking down the free throw to bring the Trojans within three points of the Panthers.
After a Trojan pivotal defensive stop and great defensive rebound, UMO called timeout to draw up a play. On an inbound, Jerin Truesdale drives in to secure a layup, leaving eight seconds left.
Jayla Hicks' quick foul, only losing one second in the process, allowed the Trojans with plenty of time to get the possession back. Ferrum knocked down both free throws with six seconds left.
Hicks would inbound the ball, give it to Priebe, who then set a screen to get Jackson open, who would go on to knock down the buzzer beating three-pointer with three seconds left in regulation to send the game into overtime.
Overtime saw both teams exchange back-to-back points. Priebe knocked down a two-point pull up jumper with 17 seconds left, but it was enough time for the Panthers to respond with a jumper of their own to win the game.
UMO was led by Savannah McAfee who scored 16 points along with nine rebounds and four assists. Jada Priebe was not far behind with 15 points and 11 rebounds in her 41 minutes of play. Kayla Jackson had 12 points total and six rebounds.
The Trojans shot 35.4 percent from the field and 29 percent from three, while the Panthers only shot 15 percent.
Mount Olive will be on the road against North Greenville December 13^th at 1 PM.